Sunday 30th July - Ian Browning's Birthday Ride at Glentress is a great success. Pix on FB.

Great turnout for NMBC's 10th Birthday at Glentress!

Terry's recollections are on here somewhere.

Over the years several Club members have benefited not only from the superb service and quality workmanship at BettaBlast but also from the Club discount agreement we set up with them many moons ago. HOWEVER it is important that we are seen to be playing the game so please, if you need your frame either sprayed or powder coated come and get a membership card from me first and show this at BettaBlast BEFORE you discuss costs, make a firm order or enquire about any available discount. It's betta for them and betta for us that we maintain some integrity in our dealings with such a professional company. If you need any reassurance about their competence or recommendations for their work see either Ian Browning, Ian Mundy or myself, Terry Kirkup.

Not even SEMI-IMPORTANT

This web site is NOW in an induced coma in favour of our Facebook pages. The aim is to simplify and speed up the creation and publishing of future rides, and hopefully avoid any further misunderstandings or ride plan clashes. I will still update the Ride Diary when I can and report on any Sunday rides I might manage to squeeze in but otherwise the "newsy" bits and information for new Club members will barely change from what you see now. I think it's been a great success, at least prior to Facebook and I have over 250 gigabytes of reports, pictures and videos collected over the years which I will treasure and look back on very fondly. Of course anyone is welcome to add content to the Ride Diary if they wish, any time. Just send it to me. Progress- C'est la vie!

It was a rotten start to 2016. Too wet for most, too cold for many and too icy for some. However if you're planning a ride do let the other members know about it on Facebook please. Thursday night rides should continue regardless as there are almost always one or two hardy souls needing either exercise or punishment. I may not be there odd times, especially in ice and sub-zero temperatures both of which affect my health badly these days, but most of the regulars are plenty capable of leading around one of several of our more familiar routes.

Hi there!

NMBC will always welcome new members. You must, however, be over 18 as this is an adult-only club, so apologies to any youngster who may wish to join. I've had hundreds of enquiries and usually direct young people or their parents to the North East Freeride Association, Hamsterley Trailblazers or more recently Barnesbury Cycling Club.

HOWEVER! We have very close links to Northumbria Short Track Club so if you like to go fast on a bike give them a try. Big People also very welcome there!

Where and When ? Thursday and Sunday + odd days and times - See Facebook or Forum!

NMBC ride just about every Sunday and Thursday evening, meeting at the ASDA, Benton car park, the Border Minstrel pub in Gosforth Park or other venues arranged by mutual agreement via our Forum or FaceBook pages.

While Sundays and Thursdays are the traditional Club outing times, there are many members who post their extra ride intentions in the above places so keep an eye on them if you fancy fitting in a ride at any other time.

With most upcoming rides advertised in advance on this site, occasionally there is little time due to unforeseen circumstances to provide the necessary information, and it is here that the immediacy of social networks like FaceBook proves beneficial. Unfortunately there are also other distractions which prevent prior warning of future rides, although we try to at least request ride ideas and ask for volunteer Ride Leaders if there is nothing planned by the usual providers.

A few Dos and Don'ts

So please, once you've met a few members and ridden with them, there is nothing to stop you suggesting a ride of your own, but if you do it on behalf of the Club please try to ensure it does actually happen and take responsibility as Ride Leader, or get someone else to do so if you're not confident of our regular procedures, which really are as simple as you'll find anywhere. Bear in mind however that Ride Leaders do have some responsibility for the conduct of everyone participating in a Club ride.

A few things worth remembering:

Respect the countryside

Respect other road users

Be aware that horses do not like bright colours or fast-moving objects. I always prefer to stop and wait for them to pass

On night rides, DO NOT blind oncoming car drivers or pedestrians with your zillion Lumen LEDs - this is so common and so very dangerous

Use cycle paths where provided - surely safer than the alternative

In rural areas, shut any gates that you've opened

If you're caught where you shouldn't really be, (accidents happen, maps go awry, people get "lost") apologise politely and do the right thing

If you know there should be someone behind you, take the odd glance back to make sure they are still there

If you're leading, make the odd stop to regroup and maybe do regular head counts if numbers are high

Remember a catch-up halt is fine, but the last one in gets no rest if you move on immediately so they will never recover

Don't rely on others to provide you with fixes or spare parts - be responsible and take precautions, that way you'll get more help should you need it

If you borrow an inner tube, chain link, gas canister or whatever then please provide a replacement as soon as you can to the donor

Above all, get mingling and enjoy your biking with NMBC!

Next Sunday Ride (plus other odd days) - See our Facebook page.

Next Night Ride: Thursday as usual.

Thursday nightersare 10-25 milers, 7:00pm start at ASDA East car park, Benton, 3-3.5 hours and generally OK for fit new riders but you need decent lights you can see with, NOT CANDLES. You MUST wear a cycle helmet.

Sundaysare generally much longer, 8:00am to 10:00am starts from ride venue ending around teatime, and much harder rides.